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Safe Air Travel for Pets

As a rule, pets travel very well but air travel can be a very stressful and traumatic experience for them. In order to minimize this stress, some guidelines should be followed.The hazards of air travel are usually not in the actual flying, but rather during the down time when your pet is being loaded or unloaded from the airplane, or when it is waiting. Delays can result in extra time spent on the runways before take-off or after landing. At these times the cargo holds are not pressurized and the surrounding temperature can vary from very hot to very cold. In fact, because of this, some airlines will not permit pets to fly during certain times of the year. For this reason, it is best to contact your airline to make sure that no risk is involved and to confirm that they will accept your pet on the flight.If your pet is small enough, some airlines will allow you to take your dog or cat on board, provided that the carrier fits under the seat in front of you. Check with your air carrier.It is also a good idea to have your pet examined by your veterinarian prior to departure to ensure that it is in good health and able to endure the rigours of air travel. Tranquillizers and sedatives are not usually recommended for pets except on the advice of your veterinarian. This is because sedation can result in serious complications. For example, it can inhibit your pet's ability to regulate its body temperature or cause breathing problems. For the actual flight, make sure that your dog is secure in an approved carrier, purchased either from the airline, a pet store or an animal hospital. Introduce your pet to the crate several weeks before departure to get him or her accustomed to it. Ensure that all the screws on the crate are secured and tight. Carriers should be labelled "Live Animal" and "This End Up" in letters at least 3 cm high. Also tape some identification (name, address, destination) to the crate. Ensure that fresh water will be made available to your pet at some time during or after the flight.It is best to travel in off-peak hours and on non-stop flights. Ideally, your pet should be last on and first off the plane. Remember to notify the flight attendants that you have a pet on board just in case there is a flight delay.

Catnip: The Drug of Choice for Cats

Catnip has been a popular stimulant for cats for a long time. Over the years, it has been found to illicit intensely pleasurable reactions in most, but not all, cats. Catnip is native to Europe but grows as a weed in some parts of the Midwest U.S. and Canada, and is a member of the mint family. The active ingredient is nepetalactone, derived from the volatile oils which can be extracted from the plant. Catnip is very safe for cats, and there is no need for any concern on the part of owners regarding its safety. Despite its widespread use, very little is known about catnip and how it works. Besides household cats, catnip also affects lions, bobcats, lynx, leopards, jaguars, pumas, and ocelots. It is interesting to note that even though the response to catnip is widespread among felines, it does not occur in any other species of animal with the possible exception of man.Whether or not a cat will respond to catnip has been shown to be an inherited predisposition. Furthermore, not all cats respond strongly to catnip and kittens under two months of age usually do not respond to catnip at all (although there are exceptions). When exposed to catnip, behavioural changes in cats usually start with head shaking and staring into space. Some cats will rub the catnip with their cheek and chin. Eventually, they may rub their bodies on the ground and roll from side to side with pleasure. The response to catnip rarely lasts longer than 5-15 minutes. After this time, there appears to be point of satiation where a cat will no longer be able to respond to catnip for a period of time (usually 1-2 hours).There are a few theories as to how catnip works to produce such a pleasurable response. Because the behaviour of cats under the influence of catnip mimics that of courtship and copulation behaviour, some investigators suspect that catnip may be activating a part of the brain related to sexual behaviour. Another theory speculates that catnip merely stimulates pleasure and is in no way involved with sexual behaviour. Since catnip is biochemically related to marijuana and other so-called psychedelic drugs, another theory suggests that the pleasure response in cats is actually similar to that experienced by humans taking similar drugs.Catnip can be purchased from your veterinarian as well as most pet stores and is available as an extract, an aerosol spray, dried leaves. Catnip can also be grown as a house plant. Any questions and concerns about its use should be directed to your veterinarian.

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